542 



The Natural History of British Grasses. 



Avena pubescens 

 „ prateiisis.. 



Proportions of Proportions of 

 Leaf-blade. SLieallj. 



1 

 10 



20 

 25 



I'roportions of 

 Leaves of base. 



10 

 40 



Its habitat is that of light upland pasture, in which it often forms 

 a conspicuous feature, affording, however, but a small weight to 

 the crop from the exceeding lightness of the culms and flowers, 

 and its short after-leaves produce but little to the pasturage ; it 

 is, however, a sweet grass in all its stages, and one which is well 

 kept down by depasturing at all seasons. A small proportion in 

 laying down permanent pasture in the upland meadow will hence 

 be not without advantage, 



A.Jlavescens is, for the most part, a denizen of calcareous soils,, 

 on which it thrives remarkably well, being, though small, equal 

 in point of produce to most other grasses by Avhich it is sur- 

 rounded, arising from the weak growth of some commoner and 

 larger species on thin brashes. On this account it is a grass of 

 great importance for admixture in light upland or limestone pas- 

 tures, as it affords some sweet hay and no less good herbage for 

 grazing — a circumstance which, as Sinclair justly remarks, re- 

 commends it to form part of even richer meadows, " and more 

 especially if the land be elevated and v/ithout good shelter, as it 

 thrives better under such circumstances than any other ;" and 

 animals are very fond of it. 



PhraGMITES — Panicle more or less compact ; fjlumes and 

 glumels finely pointed, the latter very unequal. 



Phrarpnites communis {^Arumh ■phragmites) — common reed — is 

 too well known to need description ; it grows in abundance on the 

 margins of rivers and pools, and is made available for thatching 

 purposes. In hedgerows and damp places, on clay soil, it AvilL 

 often be found on badly managed parts of the farm, where its 

 great size and stout rhizomes make it a troublesome weed. Drain- 

 ing, however, is an effectual remedy, to which end this and kindred 

 species are often useful, as directing attention to the state of 

 affairs, not only as regards broad extent but in isolated patches. 



